Canadian Thanksgiving

It's the Thanksgiving Day long weekend in Canada. Because Monday is the statutory holiday, a lot of people cook a colossal meal on Sunday and take Monday off to recover from the binge.

I'm off to my mother's house right now. I suppose I'll be back 6000 calories heavier. It's no big deal, because I'm so active. My sister-in-law, however, will eat like a bird and not get into the pig-out spirit of the day. It sort of annoys me to watch her poking around at a couple of turnips on her plate while I'm washing down the mashed potatoes with a bottle of wine. I'm not big on the holidays, but I do love free food.

What do you guys do on special occasions like this? Do you stuff your maw with as much food as you can cram in, or do you eat sensibly?

"About Canada" These questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website and obviously the answers came from a fellow Canuck.

Q: I have never seen it warm on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street?(USA)A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada? (Sweden)A: So its true what they say about Swedes.

Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed Beaver. (Italy)A: Let's not touch this one.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Canada? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (UK)A: What did your last slave die of ?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada?(USA)A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North . . . oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Canada? (USA)A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (UK)A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is....oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

May your stuffing be tastyMay your turkey plump,May your potatoes and gravyHave never a lump.May your yams be deliciousAnd your pies take the prize,And may your Thanksgiving dinnerStay off your thighs!

Well the weather turned out to be very cooperative in my neck of the woods, sunny and cool. You can just smell the fall now (along with the fertilizers on the fields).

I go to my uncle's farm(if I'm not working). We all drive back to the cabin/sugar shack for an outdoors Thanksgiving meal of wild turkey, farmed turkey,stuffing, baked beans etc. My favourite dessert is homemade pie-lemon or pumpkin.

It's my opportunity to hang out with my cousins and their kids, my aunts and uncles. Yesterday was quite a feed and I'm thankful for that.

I'm giving thanks that I don't feel so bad this morning. I have to work today. I've already got half a pot of coffee in my, and it seems to be working it's magic. At this rate, I'll be ready to eat again by noon.

I'm glad that there are no leftovers at my house. If there were, I'd probably be doing it all over again today, like Aero.